“(East Carteret) is on a 12-game win streak, they have three great shooters, they have tremendous athletes, they are conference champions. We’ve got them right where we want them,” Sadler said.

“That’s kind of our philosophy. They have all the pressure on them. If we play the Miami Heat, we are going to lose, but we can still play hard and play well and feel good about ourselves after the game.”

FAYETTEVILLE — Earl Sadler was addressing his Pamlico Hurricanes in the locker room during the 2008 1-A state championship game in Chapel Hill.

Some of his current players, as sixth graders, witnessed Sadler lecture his team during that Saturday in March.

Five years have passed and the Hurricanes are back in the 1-A East Regional of the NCHSAA boys’ state playoffs.

“They have a lot of memories,” said Sadler, Pamlico’s veteran head coach. “They tell me stories about being in the locker room with me and that I was yelling at the team.

“They’ve talked about going to the state championship since the sixth grade, now here is their chance to take that step.”

Sadler and his entourage of administrators and coaches attended Monday’s regional press conference in Fayetteville — where Wednesday’s East Regional semifinal game against East Carteret will take place.

“(East Carteret) is on a 12-game win streak, they have three great shooters, they have tremendous athletes, they are conference champions. We’ve got them right where we want them,” Sadler said.

“That’s kind of our philosophy. They have all the pressure on them. If we play the Miami Heat, we are going to lose, but we can still play hard and play well and feel good about ourselves after the game.”